Eating Disorders in Elderly

Eating disorders (ED) represent a challenging condition, mainly for paediatricians, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists. However, they constitute also a problem in elderly, because, in aging people, there are changes in eating behaviour on a background of anatomical and physiological changes. Gastroenterologists have until now neglected the importance of ED in clinical practice. Because ED lead to weight changes, the presence of organic diseases, mainly causing anorexia and other dyspeptic symptoms, is suspected. The first line investigation of ED in elderly should include endoscopy, but beside this, assessment of motility or visceral perception can be useful. In this paper, we will briefly describe the appetite regulation in normal condition and aging subjects. In continuation, we present neurological changes correlated with appetite loss and manifestations of ED. Eating behaviour can be altered by metabolic changes caused by neurological alterations in elderly, and by psychological and social factors, also. We argue for the use of the biopsychosocial model and paradigm in the approach by gastroenterologists of the elderly with ED. This template will assist you in formatting your paper. Please, copy it on your computer and insert the text keeping the format and styles indicated. The various components of your paper (title, abstract, keywords, sections, text, etc.) are already defined on the style sheet, as illustrated by the portions given in this document.